I really like the new design. I can see from a quick whizz that there are loads of new features and to me the site does look more organised.  The community stuff looks pretty impressive and I'll have to investigate that properly.  I haven't found problems logging in and actually prefer the login at the top of the page.  Forums weren't hard to find either as I went in from the left of the page.

The article about biscuits in the boardroom on DeskDemon's home page made me laugh.  But, I guess there's a serious side to it too.  I always put out my boss's favourite shortbread for meetings and never serve chocolate ones because he doesn't like them.  I don't want to be held responsible for losing a deal  - so do you think I should buy some for tomorrow's meeting with the bigwig clients?  Decisions, decisions!  I'd love to hear which biscuits you provide and is it one for the client and one for me.... one for the client and one for me.....!

I've found the same as you, in that other forums are just not active.  In  fact, I've found this forum to be the not only the most responsive  but the people on it provide really good feedback and help. I am always in software survival picking uup tips!  Have you tried asking other legal PAs who visit here, specifically for their help?  Worth a try.

I've just read the article on DeskDemon about people who sit at their desks for long periods of time without getting up and moving around increase their risks of getting a blood clot.  

I just wondered what people actually do to excercise at their desks, or do you make a point of getting up and moving around on an hourly basis?  

That's great Calista, I've been nominated by my boss too which I'm really pleased about.  I shall be a the the launch party on Monday and am really looking forward to it.  

A little boy goes to his father and asks "Daddy, how was I born?"  

The father answers: "Well, son, I guess one day you will need to find out anyway!  Your Mum and I first got together in a chat room on Yahoo.  Then I set up a date via e-mail with your Mum and we met at a cyber-cafe.  We sneaked into a secluded room, where your mother agreed to a download from my hard drive.  As soon as I was ready to upload, we discovered that neither of us had used a firewall, and since it was too late to hit the delete button, nine months later a little pop-up appeared, saying:


You have e-male!

I’ve just seen the information about the Award for PAs and secretaries that DD has launched.  All I can say is WOW  10,000 quid!!!!    That’s fantastic. Please, please someone nominate ME!   And then you can all vote for me :-)

My Manager is evaluating the PA role for recruitment purposes and he has asked me what the Top 5 attributes a PA should have, (above all others), and why.  I have found this harder to answer than I thought, because lets face it, we need so many skills to perform so many different tasks these days.  For my role, I would say

1)   Organisational Skills
2)   IT skills
3)   Confidentiality
4)   Diplomacy / People Skills  (getting people behind my Manager's projects and getting them to do what he wants, when he wants it!)
5)   Negotiating / Purchasing skills (I purchase a lot of products and services on his behalf).

Are your Top 5 different?  What would be yours and why.  

Would appreciate your feedback.

My boss has just come out of a presentation spitting mad.  Apparently the potential clients he was pitching had several phone calls during his meeting and he thinks one was from the main client’s wife!   He’s mad because it took him (and me) days to put the presentation together.  People can be so rude.  My boss is always very sensitive to mobile phone calls and prefers me to text him even if he’s on a train so as not to disturb other people.   In meetings he has it on siilent. What’s your take on mobile manners – do you have any rules that you follow?

I can't help but wonder if MPs get private health care as part of the their salary package (paid for by us).  My thinking is that if they see consultants/Doctors privately, then they will not be affected by the mistakes made by outsourced (abroad) secretarial services with no medical specialities, or by hardpressed typists in a pool.  My assumption being that private health services retain medical secretaries as a matter of course.  Therefore, outsourcing / typing pools are fine, because lets face it, it will only affect the masses (you and me) and not them - a bit like 'Nimbys'.  I think it's the same with cancer and Altzeimer (sp?) drugs, they won't allow them on the national health for everyone else, but that's no problem because they can afford to pay for it themselves.  But then again, why are we worrying about medical secretaries, when Doctor's are struggling to find a job?  Doctors don't need to worry because Australia is desperate for them (know where I'd rather be) And then, you could add education into this too....  (ooooohhhh can just feel my temper rising!)

It sounds like  medical secretaries are having a really rough ride of it at the moment -  what with weighing babies as part of the admin job being discussed on this board  a few days ago - wish you guys luck and let us know how you are faring.

Just my opinion and you might not agree with me - no offence intended.

Is anyone using Vista in their office or at home?  And if so, what are your thoughts?  Have you noticed a big difference from your previous operating system?  We're upgrading our systems and would be grateful for feedback

As one poster mentioned above, the UK has the worst family friendly policies in Europe and what, according to DD's latest news report, is going to increase flexible working and drive up the number of people  working from home?  Not family friendly policies  but Environmental Policies!!!

UK Home Page - News Alerts:  UK Workers Will Go Green Or Go Home.
http://www.deskdemon.com/pages/uk/newsalert/details?id=158

'...Companies wanting to recruit the best candidates are facing a growing trend amongst UK workers (37%) who will only consider roles offering flexible working. The business landscape is set to change within just 5-10 years, as a further two thirds of UK workers are demanding home working within that time scale. ...'

On another note, I'm glad that the issues concerning care for elderly parents has been mentioned.  Regardless of whether you have children, elderly relatives  to care for or both - seems to me that whether we like it or not, women take on the responsibility.   I know men (or some men) do try to do their bit - but it still falls to us to drop everything and take the lion's share.  That's our lot and (am I speaking out of turn?) the majority of us put up, shut up and get on with it.

I've just read that a third of working mums send their sick kids to school because they can't take the time off work (DD-news alerts).  Made me feel really bad because I've done this a few times when they have colds and invariably the school calls my mobile and asks me to come and pick them up anyway and the boss is none to happy.  Sometimes I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.  How's your boss when you ask time off to care for family?

Years and years and years ago, I booked my female boss into what sounded like a very nice hotel in Washington with a good address.   Boss called me from Washington in the middle of the night to tell me I'd booked her into a brothel.  Red faces all around.  We laughed about it later.  Much later.  Thank god for the internet and 360 degree piccies.

I'd put myself up for this definately - although I may change my mind after watching it.   Do the candidates get paid, I wonder?

The following gives a bit more detail to what it's all about

Following the runaway success of Jade’s Salon and Just Jade, Britain’s favourite reality star Jade Goody is back on LIVINGtv with another brand new and exclusive show. This series will show viewers a whole new side to the inimitable Ms Goody as she embarks on a quest to find her very own personal assistant and makes no bones about the standards she expects.
For prospective employees, working with Jade is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle. Having tried her hand at the beauty salon business and launched her new perfume Shh..., Jade has decided to enlist some help to manage her hectic life, but finding the right person won’t be easy.
Jade’s PA will have to be super-organised, keeping an eye on her finances, her raucous household, and even handle the ever persistent paparazzi that hound the celebrity wherever she goes. With the help of Hollywood PA to the stars Heather H Howard and entrepreneur and recruitment psychologist Dr Rob Yeung, Jade will carefully screen wannabe assistants to find the best person for the job.
Once they’ve sorted the star pupils from the dunces, the ten best candidates will enter Jade’s recruitment academy, living together in a flash Finchley pad and competing in a series of tests and challenges set by the judges and guest panellists. Each week, one finalist will be sent packing while the ante is upped for those remaining. But how far will contestants push themselves to clinch this high-profile job?